The political action committees that injected record amounts of money into last year’s Dallas school board elections are preparing to reshape the races once again.

The two groups, Educate Dallas and Dallas Kids First, wielded substantial influence last year as they collectively gave more than $100,000 to candidates, the most ever spent in DISD board elections.

The groups have the financial backing of some of the city’s wealthiest business leaders, who say they want to improve DISD to strengthen Dallas’ economic base.

“We want someone who is pro-Dallas ISD,” said Trisha Windham, education director at the Dallas Regional Chamber, which runs Educate Dallas. “Elections are very complicated and not just about the money. It’s hard to say that any one of these endorsements is the golden ticket to win an election.”

The campaign season kicked off Wednesday, which was the first day to file to run. The election is May 11.

Candidates will vie for the groups’ endorsements in at least three races:

Board president Lew Blackburn has signaled he will run again to represent an area that stretches from Uptown to Wilmer-Hutchins. He has been a trustee since 2001.

Trustee Nancy Bingham, who has represented Seagoville and Balch Springs since 2004, also wants to return.

Eric Cowan, first elected in 2010, is considering running for another term representing north Oak Cliff and West Dallas.

No one has announced plans to run against them. However, some groups are trying to recruit a Latino candidate to run against Cowan after a part of West Dallas, a heavily Hispanic area, was added to his district in 2011.

A fourth seat could open if trustee Adam Medrano decides to run for Dallas City Council. He declined to discuss the prospects, but signs point to a possible run. He resigned this month from his job at a Dallas recreation center. The city charter doesn’t allow current employees to seek political office.

The election could have a broad impact if it shifts power on the nine-member board. While trustees voted 8-0 less than a year ago to hire Superintendent Mike Miles, some, including Blackburn, have grown more critical of him.

The three incumbents seeking another term have amassed some cash. Blackburn has raised $1,399 in the past six months and now has $2,110 in the bank. Bingham has $10,548 saved, largely from money left over from her last run. Cowan has $1,103.

But the amounts pale compared with what the political action committees could provide. Dallas Kids First, which was started by several young Dallas residents and now has 1,000 members, has collected $155,228, according to its latest state filing. Educate Dallas brought in $31,867 in the last six months.

Every candidate the two groups endorsed last year won, after their campaigns were fueled with cash and volunteers. Bernadette Nutall, Dan Micciche and Elizabeth Jones all raised substantial money. Nutall raised $103,000, while Micciche brought in nearly $90,000 and Jones collected $55,000.

Melissa Higginbotham, director of Dallas Kids First, said endorsements will come after the filing period ends March 1. Candidate questionnaires will be distributed to group members who donated less than $200, who will then vote on the endorsements — a method established to ensure those who contribute the most money don’t have the most power.

“As we did last year, we will spend money more on campaigning than on campaign contributions,” she said. “Last year, we did mailers, knocked on doors and voter outreach. We used our members to help get out the vote.”

Educate Dallas wants candidates to turn in questionnaires in mid-February and then interview with the group’s board members. The organization has the support of the Dallas business community, and Mayor Mike Rawlings has called the group “our education PAC.”

“More than anything, we are looking for someone who understands how a large organization works and how proper governance works,” said Windham. “We are most certainly not looking for rubber stamps.”